What type of stories should I be giving for personal fit questions?

Question

I have an interview coming up with one of the MBB's. I'm concerned about the type of examples I should give in relatiion to fit questions, specifically, should I only give stories that relate to work, or is it ok to provide an example from my personal life? For example, in answering the question "What is your proudest achievement"?, I could go with:

(i) Work related - making the deadline for an IPO submission under somewhat (for lack of a better word) hostile working conditions

(ii) Personal life -as head of a department in the student union, convincing the university administration to allow us to run a huge party to liven up the campus atmosphere

I feel that both stories are interesting and good examples to answer the question. My stories that related to my personal life tend to be more fun, but sufficient in answering the question. Or is it acceptable to jokingly give the interview a choice? I'm typically laidback and relaxed in interviews so was seriously contemplating doing this for all fit questions (though I have not been in any interviews as intense as a consulting interview).

Answer 1

Hi Khalid,

Both answers could work. I would think about which one makes you more proud and also where you feel you were really making in a difference in that situation.

That being said, I think it is always good to balance professional and more personal examples in the fit part of the interview (but I would do more professional stories). However, I would actively steer that conversation as a candidate as opposed to giving the interviewer a choice every time.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

Hi,

I would have both for the following reasons:

They may ask specifically for a career achievement
They may ask for a different story - "This story does not fit, do you have another one?"

Pls make sure that your personal story is not outdated. If you have 3+ years of experience I would not use an example about the student's party.

Best

Answer 3

Dear Khalid,

Of course, you can tell both - work related and personal stories, but in case their connected to the question. In telling stories you can follow common framework. It consists of 5 parts:

1. Situation

2. Problem

3. Solution

4. Results

5. Your learnings

Hope, it helps.

Best,
André

Answer 4

Hi Khalid,

it is totally fine to use both work and personal examples in the fit part, so far that they are correctly connected with the question.

As for your specific question, as mentioned by Vlad and Jorrit, both stories could be fine. I would choose the one which shows the biggest drive and differentiation with your peer group, while keeping the other as a backup story.

As mentioned by Vlad, be sure to use stories which are not too old, otherwise the interviewer may ask for a more recent example.

Hope this helps,

Francesco

Answer 5

Hello!

On top of the insights already shared in the post, next week will be pusblished in PrepLounge´s Shop material related.

In concrete, the "Integrated FIT guide for MBB". It provides an end-to-end preparation for all three MBB interviews, tackling each firms particularities and combining key concepts review and a hands-on methodology. Following the book, the candidate will prepare his/her stories by practicing with over 50 real questions and leveraging special frameworks and worksheets that guide step-by-step, developed by the author and her experience as a Master in Management professor and coach. Finally, as further guidance, the guide encompasses over 20 examples from real candidates.

Hope you find it useful!

Answer 6

Hi,

To answer you question, I will give you hint on what you will be assessed by the interviewer.

FIT questions are designed for the following reasons:

to know candidate on the personal level
to know whether candidate can to the values of the company
to know which soft skills candidate has

What interviewers are trying to assess in you:

Personal FIT - would the interviewer like to work with you as a colleague
Are you reliable/ independent/ confident person
Can you be sent along to the client
Would you fit to the corporate culture

So, considering this information, I recommend you to be well-prepared, but in case you will be asekd something unexpected - you already know what interviewers wnat to hear from you.

Was it helpful?

GB